Concentrator.



No. 861,214. PATENTBD JULY 23, 1907. H. E. HORN. CONCENTRATw. APPLICATION FILED JULY 16, 1906.

SSHBETS-SHEET 1.

THE Norm/s Ferries co, vmsHmamm-v. c.

PATENTED JULY 23, 1907.

H'. E. HORN.

GONGENTRATOR.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 1e, 1906.

3 SHEETS-SHBET 2.

WW1/Leones 4Z/M rus mmms PETERS ca., wxsxmcnm, n. ir.

No. 861,214. PATENTBD JULY 23, 1907.

H. E. HORN.

CONCBNTRATOR. APPLIGATION PILBD JULYm, 190e.

v 3 .SHEETS-SHEET 3.

1w;` NpRRls Persa.: ca., wunmaran, n. c.

HENRY E. HORN, OF DENVER, COLORADO.

CONCENTRATOR.

Specification of Lettersy Patent.

atented July 23, 1907.

Application filed July 16,1906. Serial No. 326,376.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY E. HORN, a citizen ofthe United States, residing at the city and county of Denver and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Concentrators; and I do de- Clare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and gures of reference marked thereon, which forma part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in concentrators of the Vanner type.

My object is to provide a construction whereby the concentrating surface of the belt is kept perfectly Hat and smooth between the end sprockets. In constructions of this class there is a tendency, due to the unequal expansion and contraction of the saturated canvas of which the belt is composed or even in the case of a rubber belt, for the belt to become uneven, wrinkled or buckled so to speak.

By virtue of my improved construction the slats to which the belt or apron is attached, are connected by sprocket chains of peculiar construction. Each link of each chain where it is connected with a slat extremity, is provided with a keeper or clip adapted to allow the slat end a limited degree of vertical movement or inward and outward movement. The term vertical would be substantially correct when referring to the upper and lower runs of the belt between the sprockets; but when the belt is going around the sprockets, it

l would be more accurate to refer to this movement as an inward and outward or radial movement of the slat ends.

Having briefly outlined my 'improved construction as well as the function it is intended to perform, I will proceed to describe the same in detail reference being made to the accompanying drawing in which is illustrated an embodiment thereof.

In this drawing, Figure 1 is a top plan view of a machine equipped with my improvements. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same. Figs. 3 and 4 are sections taken on the lines 3-3 and 4-4 respectively, of Fig. 2, theparts being shown on a larger scale. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary side elevation of the structure shown on a greatly enlarged scale. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one of the links of the sprocket chain provided with a vertically disposed U-shaped keeper having a bolt for retaining this extremity of the slat which is slidable longitudinally of the bolt.

The same reference characters indicate the same parts in all the views.

Let the numeral 5 designate a suitable base to which are attached upwardly-projecting flexible supports 6 to the upper extremities of which is secured the frame work 7 of the Vanner structure. At the opposite extremities of this frame are journaled shafts 8 to which are made fast sprocket wheels 9. There is a sprocket wheel at each extremity of each shaft. The journal boxes at one extremity of the frame are provided with belt tightening screws 10 having hand wheels 12 to facilitate adjustment. These screws are threaded in nuts 13 mounted on the adjacent extremity of the frame. The sprocket wheels are engaged by endless chains 14 composed of links 15 having hook-shaped extremities 16. To the inner bar of each link is attached a U-shaped clip or keeper 17 composed oi a body part 18 provided with end arms 19 extending at right angles to the body part. These end arms are connected by a bolt 20. Each bolt 20 when the parts are assembled passes through the extremity of a transverse slat 21 to one surface of which is attached a wearing plate 22 which'also prevents the opening in the slat through which the bolt passes from becoming enlarged incident to use, since it is not desirable to have any more play or lost motion than is necessary, in order to permit the free movement of the slat end upon theguide bolt.

The belt or apron 23, as shown in the drawing is composed of two layers of material. This is not absolutely essential, however, since a single layer only may be employed` The apron is secured to the slats 21 which form a substantially unbroken support therefor. The

adjacent edges of these slats are beveled to form V- shaped openings which are widest at the inner surfaces of the slats. By virtue of this construction the apron is allowed to pass freely around the sprocket wheels since during this movement it is necessary to permit the slat edges a limited degree of movement due to the fact that the inner surfaces of the slats are traveling in a circle of less radius than their outer surfaces.

The belt is provided on its outer surface with two endless hose pipes 24 which are secured thereto in any suitable manner. These hose pipes form endless ribs or flanges on the belt between which the material treated upon the belt is confined. It is evident that any other suitable flanges or ribs adapted to perform the aforesaid function may be employed.

Suitably located between the end sprockets and supported by the body of the frame work 7, are two longitudinally disposed bars 25, whereby a rigid supporting frame work is formed. When the belt is passing over this frame work, the slats are raised to the upper extremities of the U-shaped keepers (see Fig. 3),

but as soon as the belt leaves the supporting structure,

the guide bolts 20 as heretofore explained, entirely overcome the difliculty mentioned thus making it practicable to have a belt with a perfectly smooth surface between the end sprockets.

Two of the upright supports 6 are provided at their upper extremities with cogs 6A which are engaged by gears 28 whereby the Vanner structure may be raised and lowered at pleasure, pawls 29 being employed to lock the structure in the adjusted position. lt is well known that in constructions of this class one extremity ofthe belt or that toward which the upper run of the belt is traveling, should be higher than the opposite extremity. The object of the construction just described is to regulate this inclination.

One of the shafts 8 is provided with an extension 8A on one side of the structure to which ismade fast a pulley 30 connected by means of a belt 3l with a similar pulley 32 fast on the shaft 33 provided with a driving pulley 34 which may be connected with any suitable power for imparting rotary movement to the shaft 8A, whereby the belt is made to travel in the performance of its function. In order to impart the lateral or Vanner movement to the structure, l employ a shaft 35 provided with a gear 36 meshing with a gear 37 fast on the shaft 33. Upon the shaft 35 is mounted an eccentric 38 to the strap of which is connected a rod 39 attached to one side of the Vanner frame work as shown at 40. By virtue of this construction, the lateralimovement is imparted to the Vanner frame simultaneously with the longitudinal travel of the endless belt.

Mounted transversely above the belt near thelower extremity of the Vanner frame, is a feed trough or hopper 4l from which the material to be treated is fed to the belt and carried upwardly thereon in the direction indicated by arrow A in Fig. 2. Also mounted transversely of the belt and above the same, but near the upper extremity of the Vanner structure, is a wash water trough 42 perforated to allow the necessary water escape therefrom to the upper run of the belt.

Projecting downwardly from the Vanner frame, near the upper extremity thereof are screws 43 and in whose lower extremities is journaled a rotary brush 44 which rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow adjacent the brush. This brush is in engagement with the lower run of the belt as it begins its travel toward the right after passing around the adjacent end sprockets, and its function is to remove the concentrates therefrom and cause them to drop into a hopper or receptacle 45 suitably mounted for the purpose.

- Having thus described my invention, what l claim is: 1. In a structure of the class described, the combination with suitable supporting means, of an endless traveling structure provided with chains at its opposite edges and having transverse slats, the latter being slidably connected with the chains to permit inward and outward movement, and a concentrating belt or apron secured to the endless traveling structure substantially as described.

2. A concentrator composed of a suitable framework, end sprocket wheels mounted thereon, endless chains engaging said sprockets and suitably separated, and transversely arranged slats havingtheir extremities slidably connected with the chains to permit inward and outward movement of either element independently of the other element, and a concentrating belt or apron secured to the slats.

3. An endless traveling structure composed of transverse slats and a concentrating belt or apron secured to the slats, chains attached to the opposite edges of the traveling structure, each link of the chains being provided with a U-shaped clip, and a bolt passing through the clip extremities, the said bolts passing through openings formed in the extremities of the slats of the traveling structure, the slats being slidable upon 'the bolts, whereby the slats are permitted inward and outward movement for the purpose set forth.

4. The combination with a suitable supporting structure, of end shafts journaled thereon, sprocket wheels made fast upon the shafts, chains engaging the sprocket wheels and provided with 'II-shaped clips extending at right angles to the length of the links, bolts connecting the extremities of the clips, transverse slats whose extremities are retained by the said bolts, the slat ends being in sliding engagement with the bolts, a concentrating belt or apron secured to the endless traveling slatted structure, and means for imparting the .traveling movement to the endless traveling structure for the purpose set forth.

5. In a structure of the class described, the combination with suitable supporting means, of an endless traveling structure provided with chains at its opposite edges, bolts connected with the chains, and transverse slats having their extremities slidably connected with the bolts to permit inward and outward movement, and a concentrating belt or apron secured to the endless traveling structure substantially as described.

G. In a structure of the class described, the combination with suitable supporting means, of an endless traveling structure provided with chains and having transverse slats, the chains being provided with clips carryingr bolts, the extremities of the slats being slidably connected with the said bolts to permit a limited degree of inward and outward movement of the slats independently ot the chains, and a concentrating belt or apron secured to the endless traveling structure.

7. In a structure of the class described, the combination with suitable supporting means, of an endless traveling structure composed of chains provided with U shaped clips, bolts connecting the arms ot the clips, and transverse slats whose extremities are retained by the said bolts, the -slat ends being in sliding engagement with the bolts, and a concentrating belt or apron secured to the endless traveling structure substantially as described.

I-n testimony whereof I al'lx my signature in presence ot two witnesses.

HENRY E. HORN.

Witnesses A. J. OBRIEN, DENA NELSON. 

